A little over a year ago, few people had heard of Winnipeg-born designer Raif Adelberg, who first cut his teeth running eminent Vancouver clothing boutique, Richard Kidd, from 2004 to 2008. Vogue and Style.com referred to it as one of the top stores to visit in the world, but stepping away from the register, Adelberg has since set out alone, establishing his own eponymous label.

Beginning with a luxury cashmere collection for men in the fall of 2011, which was quickly scooped up by Bergdorf Goodman NY, Adelberg moved on to a women’s collection for Spring 2014 that was picked up by Barneys. There he now sells oversized punk tie-dye cardigans in blues and reds, soft leather shorts with gently ruched waistbands and V-neck cashmere sweaters in openwork knits.

Prices are eye-watering at around $1000 a piece (duties and the like not included), but having opened a pop-up shop in Vancouver this past Christmas, I’m hoping he’ll do the same for his Fall 2014 collection, the eerily titled “Ghost in the Machine.” He tells Fashion that the theme is reminiscent of how he currently feels living on Bowen Island, BC.

Emma Jones is a fashion and entertainment writer based in Toronto. She writes extensively for lifestyle and entertainment outlets, including MSN.ca, About.com Celebrity Style and MTV.com. Obsessed with British street style and vintage finds, when she's not writing (or wasting her Law degree, sorry parents!), Emma can be found scouring Kensington Market thrift stores for band shirts and original must-haves. Her style icons include Fearne Cotton, Alexa Chung, Debbie Harry, and Daria.